Since free agency started on March 11 the Detroit Lions have been looking for a starting safety to replace Louis Delmas.

James Ihedigbo, who spent the last two seasons with the Ravens, visited the Lions facility on the third day of free agency. He left without a contract, but seemed confident it was just a matter of time and he would return. New Lions defensive coordinator Teryl Austin was Ihedigbo’s secondary coach in Baltimore the last two seasons.

Days passed. The 30-year-old Ihedigbo hired a new agent earlier this week.

Advertisement

More days passed. Reports out of Baltimore were that the Ravens were in the mix.

On Friday, the Ravens agreed to a deal with safety Darian Stewart and effectively were out of the Ihedigbo derby. A Baltimore Sun report said the Ravens would not match the offer made by the Lions.

The Lions were not sitting on their hands waiting.

On Friday, according to various reports, they hosted a pair of free agent safeties — Chris Clemons (Dolphins) and Thomas DeCoud (Falcons).

In Pro Football Focus’ rankings of safeties from the 2013 season Ihedigbo was 16th, Clemons was 19th and DeCoud was 83rd. (In comparison, Delmas was 26th and Glover Quin was 11th.)

Along with Quin the Lions have just four safeties on the roster. Aside from Don Carey they are mostly untested at the position in the NFL.

— Isa Abdul-Quddus, 24, has kind of snuck onto the Lions’ roster under the radar. He was awarded to the Lions off waivers from the Saints on Feb. 3. Last season he played mostly special teams for New Orleans.

— Don Carey, who was with Detroit for the past three seasons, is versatile. Last season due to injuries he filled in at nickel back.

— DeJon Gomes, who played mostly special teams in all 16 games for the Lions in 2013, will also return. He’s just 24.

— Akwasi Owusu-Ansah, 25, joined the Lions practice squad late last season. He was cut by the Saints after training camp.

About the Author

Paula Pasche is a longtime sports writer for The Oakland Press and blogs at http://oplions.blogspot.com/. Author of book, "100 Things Lions Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die." Follow on Tout and Twitter @paulapasche. Reach the author at paula.pasche@oakpress.com
or follow Paula on Twitter: @PaulaPasche.